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Alice Ann Goodwater, 79, of Park Rapids, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 at her home. She was born Dec. 22, 1929 to Charles and Lydia (Mueller) Wiskur in Elkton, S.D. She attended country school through the eighth grade and then attended Elkton High School in Elkton, S.D. She married Floyd Goodwater on May 16, 1962. The couple lived in Elkton, S.D. for a period of time where they owned and operated a plumbing business. They eventually moved to Wisconsin where they continued with the plumbing business.

John Edward Rife, 88, of Sebeka, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009 at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena. He was born Aug. 4, 1920 to Walter and Susie (Hurst) Rife in Broadland, Ill. He attended school in Decatur, Ill. At an early age he ventured to Chicago. His was first employed selling Good Humor ice cream. Later he worked for Chicago Roto Print and also had various sales related jobs. He married Dorothy Ostvig in Chicago and they had three children. He moved his family to New York City.

Myrtle Luella Johnson, 97, of Puposky, died, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Society, Clearbrook. She was born Oct. 10, 1911 to Lars and Laura Engelstad in Holst Township in Clearwater County. She moved with her family to Nymore in 1925. She married Clarence Johnson in 1932. They lived near Clearbrook for about three years, then they moved to the Maple Ridge area where they spent the rest of their married life.

Raymond Allen Mattson, 56, of Menahga, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009 at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena. He was born to Edward and Florence (Kettunen) Matson on May 22, 1952 in Park Rapids. He was baptized and confirmed in the Apostolic Lutheran Faith.

Raymond Mattson, 56, of Menahga, died Jan. 21, 2009 at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26 at Wevley Funeral Home in Sebeka. Visitation is two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment: Menahga City Cemetery. For more information, call Wevley Funeral Home at 218-837-9455.

Lucelia Grace Smith, 91, of White Earth, died Thursday, Jan. 22 at Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes. She was born Jan. 19, 1918 in White Earth to George and Sophie "Mindemoyahn" (Rock) Boswell. She was raised in Pine Point Township near Ponsford and attended school in Pine Point, the Flandreau (S.D.) Indian School and the White Earth (Minn.) Mission School. She married Steven Smith. She then worked as a cook for logging camps in the Walker-Nevis area. Her husband died in 1952 and she moved to Minneapolis in the early 1950s. She moved to White Earth in 2000 and to St.

Mable Elsie Oja, 83, of Osage, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 at her home on Straight Lake. She was born Oct. 1, 1925 on a farm near New York Mills to Emil and Lillian (Wiirre) Kallinen. She attended country school through the eighth grade and then attended New York Mills High School, graduating in 1943. She moved to Chicago, Ill., and worked at a WWII defense plant for several years. Later, she returned to Minnesota where she worked in the office at the downtown Dayton's store. She married Lyle Byron Oja on Aug. 4, 1946 in New York Mills.

Dale J. Sumers, 76, of Park Rapids, formerly of West Fargo, N.D., died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 at MeritCare - Palliative Unit, Fargo, N.D. He was born on Nov. 2, 1932 in Los Angeles, Calif. He grew up in southern California with his parents, Joseph and Marguerite (Altmeyer) Sumers. He attended school in southern California and graduated from San Jose University in 1956. He married Nancy Taylor on Aug. 6, 1955 in Woodland Hills, Calif. He taught and coached in northern California for 11 years, eventually moving to Roswell, N.M.

Alfred "Al" Lee Potter, 71, of Park Rapids, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009 at home, after a battle against cancer. He was born July 4, 1937 to Francis and Gladys Potter in Straight River Township, south of Park Rapids. He attended country school and then attended Park Rapids High School, graduating in 1955. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957-61, stationed for a year on the island of Anawetok. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Minnesota where he attended St.

Chester Walsh, 91, of Park Rapids, died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009 at home. He was born March 8, 1917 to Edmund and Essie (Kimball) Walsh in Arago Township at their home near Dinner Lake north of Park Rapids. He attended country school. As a young man, he cut firewood, which he split and hauled into Park Rapids to sell. Later, he gained employment driving truck for Nash Finch Grocery Wholesalers in Fargo, N.D., delivering groceries to stores throughout North Dakota. On Feb. 22, 1941, he married Anna Mabel Eischens at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Two Inlets.